I am buying a dog from a breeder but what things should I look out for?

Question

should they be KC registered?

I have tried to adopt a puppy from a number of pet rescue places in our area, non of which will allow for their dogs to be re-homed with young children, i have 3 young childen aged 7 and under.

Answer 1

Geting a pup from a shelter or rescue group can be great---but that isn't always the best choice for every family and not everyone realizes that.

Serious breeders (unless it is a rare breed) have AKC registered dogs. Having an AKC registration is no guarantee of quality, so asking questions is good.

Here is a link to a great list of questions to ask a breeder. It is specific to Labs, so you'll need to tailor it to the breed you are interested in (for example, your breed might have different hereditary health problems.)

http://pleasantpinelabs.tripod.com/Puppy_checklist.htm

I used this list and found an awesome breeder who (coincidentally enough) just called me to see how my dog is doing.

I would add:

Have you ever taken a puppy/dog back and why? Where is it now? My breeder took back a 4 year old dog when the family's circumstances changed and they couldn't keep him. She found him a new home. Good breeders take responsibility for the pups for a lifetime.

How will you choose which pups go into which homes? My breeder had the pups temperament tested and then pups destined for show or performance homes were selected first.

She also had recommendations based on the temperment tests for which dogs would do best with which families. This is very helpful.

Where are the pup's half-siblings, siblings, grandparents, etc? What I am getting at is are they all alive? How old did they live to? A good breeder will be able to tell you alot of this or find it out easily and let you know. If many of the dogs didn't make it to 10 in a breed that should be 13-15, that's a bad sign.

Get the full name of both parents and you can check their hip/elbow/etc clearances at www.offa.org You will also be able to see some health information on ancestors, half siblings, etc if you click through the links.

References are great. Don't be shy about making calls. Ask folks what was the best thing they encountered with the dog and the breeder and what would they have changed (NOTICE I didn't say worst). Ask them what they wished they had asked.

Then be prepared to be grilled in turn. A good breeder may ask YOU for references. A good breeder will make you sign a contract that will include spay/neuter. A good breeder will sell you a dog with a limited registration so you can't breed it.

Good luck finding a breeder!


PS Pet store/back yard breeder dogs--cheaper than hobby/serious breeders?

Many folks think that getting a really good dog from a "hobby" breeder is expensive, but it isn't always. I have seen sickly puppies in pet stores for more than the price I paid for my puppy and he comes from an amazing breeder.
His parents have every possible health clearance, as do the grandparents and the great and great-great grandparents have hip and elbow clearances.
The majority of his family tree are breed champions, and all of the dogs have performance titles. He was well socialized before I got him and his breeder will answer any questions I have even when he is an adult. His breeder will also take him back if anything happens where I can't keep him.

You won't get any of that at a pet store or BYB.

Answer 2

First, you should do a net search on the breed of dog in which you are interested - then you will become acquainted with the idiosyncrasies of different breeds. Pick a KC registered breeder. Your local vet might well be able to help in selecting a breeder.
Do not buy from 'dog supermarkets' where they have every breed on the planet and will 'have some more in on Thursday' if you do not see anything you like.
Do not be fooled by 'guarantees' offerred by such people: what do you think will happen to a rejected puppy? All reputable breeders, including those who breed at home, have an excellent 'after-sales' service, which should include assistance in re-homing your dog should unforseen circumstances arise.
Do not buy from anyone or any company which issues its own 'pedigree certificates' - they are worthless; it's KC or nothing.
You must be able to see the mother of the puppy. Fathers are something else but you should be given all the info you need about him. Breeders should be knowledgeable about things such as hip-scoring and eye tests as it applies to the parents of a puppy. Remember - you can not tell just by looking at a puppy how it will turn out; problems such as hip dysplasia may not be obvious in very young ones.

Answer 3

Just curious as to what breed you are considering -- only because, if you've looked at the breed in rescue, and people aren't willing to adopt the dog to someone with young children, maybe that breed isn't right for families with young children...in which case, getting a puppy will only delay the inevitable.

I don't know the details, just something to consider.

Here are a couple of good discussions on choosing a good breeder:

http://www.canismajor.com/dog/responbr.html
http://www.dogplay.com/GettingDog/where.html
http://www.kaylenbergsiberians.com/BreedersOnline.htm

Responsible breeders are usually involved in some sort of competition to prove their dogs worthy of breeding (which automatically implies that the dogs are registered with a kennel club). If the puppies are not/cannot be registered with a reputable kennel club, chances are you're dealing with someone who doesn't know what they're doing.

Responsible breeders also test their breeding dogs for genetic problems common to the breed (i.e. hip dysplasia, eye problems, etc.). They generally sell on a spay/neuter contract and will screen you very carefully to make sure your home is a good fit.

They will not be shy about letting you see the home/area where the dogs are kept, as well as meeting the mother and any other relatives. Be aware that the sire of the litter may not be onsite -- responsible breeders very often use an outside stud.

Good luck with finding your puppy!

Answer 4

If a breeder is serious about breeding for health and temperment their dogs will be registered with the countries kennel club. Also, having a few champions in their line is a really good sign that their dogs meet the breed standard and are of high quality. Some things to look out for are breeders who breed more than one type of dog, because that typically means they are just out for a profit. Also, they should always be interested in you and what kind of home you will provide for their puppies; it shows they really care about the pups and not just the money they are getting. Most good breeders also will provide a pedigree and writen health guarantee. Some questions I would ask is if they do testing on their dogs for genetic problems and if you can see the parents of the puppies because that's a good sign of how they will look full grown. Good luck!

Answer 5

They should be AKC registrable. Visit the breeder at their home and make sure they were raised inside the home environment instead of outdoor cages. Hopefully meet the puppies parents and interact. Ask about a health guarantee (at least a year). Also make sure the breeder is not breeding multiple breeds (more than 3), this would suggest that the breeder may not look for the best breed characteristics for each breed.

Answer 6

Don't buy from a breeder. Most people think that byb's are reputable breeders.

A reputable breeder has litters to improve the breed. It's quality, not quantity.

Be wary of people who breed lots of litters.

Ask about health tests, such as for hips and eyes. Find out what type of conditions the breed you are interested in are prone to, and then ask if any of the dogs have been tested clear and free of those.

A quality breeder will have show quality and pet quality pups. All pet quality pups will be required to be spayed or neutered.

All show dogs will be required to be shown.

A breeder should health guarantee the pup.

A breeder should be willing to take back a puppy/dog at any time should you no longer be able/willing to care for it.

A reputable breeder will screen you and your home to be sure you are a good permanent match for one of the pups.

Registered, titled dogs are a must from a reputable breeder.

http://www.libertydogtraining.com

Answer 7

i would reccommend it. Make sure you are not buying from a puppy mill. If you see a lot of dogs in tiny cages, than it's probably a puppy mill, and you should report it to the authorities. If the place is fine, make sure the owner has a vet record for the pup, and ask about any problems that could have come from the breeding. Check for healthy eyes, gums, skin, and a healthy weight. We got several pets from the SPCA and Animal control that lived long healthy lives, and were the most loving pets ever! Save a puppy that might not see tomorrow.

Answer 8

Check to see how knowledgable the breeder is about the dog. Ask tons of questions and they should be able to answer them all. The breeder should and hopefully have to know about the dogs health and any temperment things about the specific breed. A good breeder hopefully will only breed one kind of dog and not have too many of them to care for. Trust me, I've learned from experince on this one. Go for a breeder that specializes in one breed and not multiple breeds. Make sure you meet with the breeder and they allow you to see the dogs and if they are puppies, you get to meet the parents of that puppy. Good luck!

Answer 9

There is a registry called AKC and it means only that if the breeder did not lie the parents are who they say they are. It does not in any way shape or from guarantee you a good dog.
Look for a breeder who has a contract that spells out what happens if the dog is sick or ends up with hip displaysia or something like that. Look for a health guarantee for the life of the dog for genetic things. Ask what tests have been done on the parents of the pups. Make sure what needs to be done for hte breed you are looking at. For me I look for OFA on the hips and CERF on the eyes and a cardio myothopathy test and Von Willedbarnds test and for any Wobblers in the dogs histories. I have dobermans.
Look for a breeder who has shown the dogs nad that they have finished CH titles. Or if you are looking at hunting dog look for JH SH or MH titles after the dogs names. Something to show tha person does more than just breed the dog for money.

Answer 10

answered your later qu first!
if it is a breeder I would expect KC Reg or very much cheaper some puppies that are not to the breed standard are not registered so that they can not be bred from by persons passing them off as excellent! -they can still make good pets.
arrange to go to the breeder do not meet them some where neutral or arrange for them to deliver.
firstly if you can not see the mother be very wary The mother may not be with them but should still be a bit "duggy" (signs of having been feeding pups) check the mother for temperament esp if she is away from her babiea and not protecting them.
Puppies should be bright eyed and bold avoid very shy ones and the boldest in your case which would possibly be a very dominant dog as it grows up. Poo should be firm and not sloppy.
ask as many questions as you can
are they wormed , innoculated ,who owns the father (if doubtfull check) you will see if they are clean and happy, puppies sleep a lot so don't be suprised if they are asleep but will soon wake up.
Puppies should not have distended pot bellies(worms) and look in the coats for fleas/ flea dirt.
A genuine breeder will vet you as much as you him and should aim to match you with the right puppy for your requirements.
if in doubt hang fire you are under no obligation to buy and get in touch with the kennel club or vets for registered breeders. A pup may cost a bit more but at least you should get some back up.
If you haven't already buy a book on puppies which will give all the pros and cons and what to look for which you can read at your leisure and refer back to. Good luck